I have a feeling we're not in Punjar anymore!

The journey to worlds unknown

After The Conclave in Punjar, all of the magical might from every team was brought together at Cleoragard in an attempt to open a portal to The Temple of Selûne.

The team was wildly successful at opening a passage way not to another location, but to another plane of existence: Ysgard.

As team Beholder begins to vanish from the tower’s world, the members can hear multiple strange ringing-voices increase in volume and clarity…
“..here they blam!” “Not cutters, right?” “Not cutters” “Got Jink?” “Always do…” “They’ll be headsmack’d for a few, so this’ll be easy!”

Arrival at Ysgard

Even though Team Beholder maintains their orientation and arrive with their wits intact, the first time you arrive on another plane, it is a bit disorienting…

It turns out the punkish banter (in an unfamiliar dialect of common) is coming from a series of floating giant shards of crystal, acting like warf-rats at home trying to get the upper hand on seasick travelers.

But, the Irregulars startle them by being fully alert when the arrive, and sending them floating off “home” once the ringleader gets sufficiently injured.

“Ssssupremely done”, comes a voice from behind some nearby buildings. “Welcome to Ysssgard – may I help you?”

She’s half giant snake, and several men-sized salamanders point weapons down from the building tops.

They explain that the are here to climb the Infinite Staircase, and so she accompanies them some distance to the Temple of Selûne

The Temple of Selûne

It is guarded by a huge Crystal Golem – and there is a statue of a dog-serpent on the walkway as well.

This place is HUGE! The section here is just one of several “wings” of the temple.

Ascending the stairs now leaves the Golem and the Dog-serpent statue behind…

Approaching the Temple brings out the Priestess and get the attention of all the supporting faithful, both inside the columned temple, and on the huge roof.
The hail of arrows/spikes/whatever could be devastating, so the party is cautious. Again they explain that the wish to climb the stair.

The priestess replies “You have shown strength driving off the shards. But that in naught wisdom for the Stair we guard. Would you agree to a test?”

“Certainly!” Barton responds glibly.

The First Test

“Very well!” Her hand flicks and the first volley of arrows flies at our heroes! [Roll Initiative!]

“All of you must enter the temple and reach the back wall unwounded (not bloodied) and not one falling.”

Our heroes have several tricks up their sleeves, and besides it doesn’t take long to realize that they will lose a toe-to-toe fight,
especially with the heavy melee coming up behind them. Barton uses the nearby plants to create a direct passage from the stairs to the platform bypassing
some of the worst threats.

Once they realize that avoiding conflict is the way to meet this challenge, it goes quickly.

“You have passed the first test – climb down the spiral stairs to find the Infinite Staircase. But hurry, there are only a few hours left in this moon, and the passage will seal for an entire month soon.”